Introduction - D-Link DWL-520 Manual

Introduction

The D-Link Air DWL-520 Wireless PCI Adapter is an 802.11b wireless adapter that
supports speeds up to 11Mbps* when used with a desktop computer.
The DWL-520 is compatible with existing 802.11b devices such as the D-Link Air and
AirPlus family of products including the DWL-650 and DWL-650+ Wireless Cardbus
Adapters, the DI-514 and the DI-614+ Wireless Routers, DWL-700AP and DWL-900AP+
Wireless Access Points and the DWL-122 Wireless USB Adapter.
The DWL-520 is an ideal way to connect your desktop computer to a Wireless Local Area
Network (WLAN). After completing the steps outlined in the Quick Installation Guide
(included in the package) you will have the ability to share information and resources,
such as files and printers, and enjoy the freedom that wireless networking delivers.
The DWL-520 has the newest, strongest, most advanced security features available
today. When used with other 802.11 WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and 802.1x compatible
products in a network with a RADIUS server, the security features include:
WPA: Wi-Fi Protected Access which authorizes and identifies users based on a secret
key that changes automatically at a regular interval. WPA uses TKIP (Temporal
Key Integrity Protocol) to change the temporal key every 10,000 packets (a
packet is a kind of message transmitted over a network.) This insures much
greater security than the standard WEP security. (By contrast, the older WEP
encryption required the keys to be changed manually.)
802.1x: Authentication which is a first line of defense against intrusion. In the
Authentication process the Authentication Server* verifies the identity of the
client attempting to connect to the network. Unfamiliar clients would be denied
access.
For home users that will not incorporate a RADIUS server in their network, the security
for the DWL-520, used in conjunction with other WPA-compatible 802.11 products, will
still be much stronger than ever before. Utilizing the Pre Shared Key mode of WPA, the
DWL-520 will obtain a new security key every time it connects to the 802.11 network.
You only need to input your encryption information once in the configuration menu. No
longer will you have to manually input a new WEP key frequently to ensure security.
With the DWL-520, you will automatically receive a new key every time you connect,
vastly increasing the safety of your communication.
* Not all servers can provide Authentication.
*"Maximum wireless signal rate based on IEEE Standard 802.11b specifications. Actual data throughput will
vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials
and construction, and network overhead lower actual data throughput rate."
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